Problem with Pre-Orders vs Steam

[ScorpioSymbol]

Guys,

I've got a real problem here.

I've been buying this game since the 2009 version, but this year I'm feeling pretty snubbed.

For the last few versions, when we've preordered we've been able to select the game via Steam, where I prefer to play all my PC games - but this year when I reached out to you via Twitter to find out the deal, I was told there was no way to do that this year...

Next, the pre-order price I paid was $35.99 USD (that's $48.15 CDN) and yet when I go to Steam the price is $39.59 CDN - almost ten bucks cheaper! It's on 10% sale, but even the non-sale price is 5 bucks cheaper than what I paid in pre-order.

Obviously I won't be seeing the money back, but I want that damn Steam key guys, and I know I'm not the only person who feels this way.

[icedragon15]

Originally Posted by ScorpioSymbol

Guys,

I've got a real problem here.

I've been buying this game since the 2009 version, but this year I'm feeling pretty snubbed.

For the last few versions, when we've preordered we've been able to select the game via Steam, where I prefer to play all my PC games - but this year when I reached out to you via Twitter to find out the deal, I was told there was no way to do that this year...

Next, the pre-order price I paid was $35.99 USD (that's $48.15 CDN) and yet when I go to Steam the price is $39.59 CDN - almost ten bucks cheaper! It's on 10% sale, but even the non-sale price is 5 bucks cheaper than what I paid in pre-order.

Obviously I won't be seeing the money back, but I want that damn Steam key guys, and I know I'm not the only person who feels this way.

TLDR; Changes to Steam's review policy drove the change.

It has to do with Valve's change to their review policies. Here is a response from Markus (OOTP lead developer/designer) on OOTP's forums:

There are two issues that led us to the decision (which was a hard one).

First, reviews written by Steam users who got the key for free no longer count towards the game's user score, Steam changed their policy on this in September. And we need a high number of reviews in order to be considered for Steam promotions etc. We are still way too small that we can ignore the effect of this policy change which they instituted in order to fight artificially inflated user scores for games. For more info on this, see here: http://www.polygon.com/2016/9/13/129...s-abuse-ethics

Second, we thought about doing a regular Steam pre-order period with 20% off and beta access, however the guys at Steam strongly advised us to not do it, again the reason is that we're still too small and need all the launch-day excitement we can get (high number of sales on day 1) in order to get promoted by Steam and placed high in the charts.

Steam nowadays accounts for over 60% of our sales, and we need to do everything we can to get good visibility there. Unfortunately, this forces us to no longer give away free Steam keys this year. I am sorry.
thius markus reason why he wont give you steam sucks but it the sad

[ScorpioSymbol]

I guess I'm unclear as to why all PC sales aren't just through Steam then?

I can guarantee this is the last year many of us, myself included, will pre-order the game - especially if we can wait and get it on the platform we want (Steam) for cheaper than the pre-order "sale" price

[tomwolf2008]

Well, OOTP is always upfront on what they do and do not offer each year. For instance, Markus make it very clear in the pre-order post:

http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...d.php?t=273334

That there will be no steam key this year

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by ScorpioSymbol

I guess I'm unclear as to why all PC sales aren't just through Steam then?

Some people don't use Steam at all, so we still have to offer the game in a standalone version.

As to why the Steam game is cheaper, it shouldn't be at all, and it isn't for American customers, but esellerate is using way too high a conversion rate for the Canadian dollar, which means the price there is much higher than we'd like it to be or we intend for it to be for our Canadian customers.

Unfortunately they won't change their rate and there's not really anything we can do to get them to do so

[tomwolf2008]

and I guess not all PC sells went through steam because...not everyone likes to get it on Steam. I'm one of them in that regard

[icedragon15]

Originally Posted by Lukas Berger

Some people don't use Steam at all, so we still have to offer the game in a standalone version.

As to why the Steam game is cheaper, it shouldn't be at all, and it isn't for American customers, but esellerate is using way too high a conversion rate for the Canadian dollar, which means the price there is much higher than we'd like it to be or we intend for it to be for our Canadian customers.

Unfortunately they won't change their rate and there's not really anything we can do to get them to do so

well it be in other site like humble gamersgate greenmangaming as steam key there or only steam for steam key?

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by icedragon15

well it be in other site like humble gamersgate greenmangaming as steam key there or only steam for steam key?

Eventually, but maybe not for a while.

[Orcin]

Originally Posted by ScorpioSymbol

I guess I'm unclear as to why all PC sales aren't just through Steam then?

Some of us like buying directly from OOTPD.

[JeffTitansBaseball]

Originally Posted by ScorpioSymbol

I guess I'm unclear as to why all PC sales aren't just through Steam then?

I can guarantee this is the last year many of us, myself included, will pre-order the game - especially if we can wait and get it on the platform we want (Steam) for cheaper than the pre-order "sale" price

Maybe because the add ons system for steam sucks and add ons for the stand alone version is as it always was.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by ScorpioSymbol

I guess I'm unclear as to why all PC sales aren't just through Steam then?

I can guarantee this is the last year many of us, myself included, will pre-order the game - especially if we can wait and get it on the platform we want (Steam) for cheaper than the pre-order "sale" price

Because if it goes to all PC sales being through Steam, a lot of us won't be buying it.

[mitchkenn]

Originally Posted by actionjackson

Because if it goes to all PC sales being through Steam, a lot of us won't be buying it.

yes sir!

[rastyk]

Upfront or not, this still stinks. It wasn't a deal-breaker this year, but I like to have the steam version on my gaming rig for the community.
Reading into some of this, it seems like a pretty sad reason to do this, since they're not even going to get a Steam review at all for those of us who support them directly.

[NoOne]

miseed quote.. but it was more general than for one person:

no to steam.... would never buy a game from them ... ever. if i really wanted something that was only available there.. .i'll just say there are other means and i could rationalize that.

they force you to connect to their network to play offline games... fug that. listen, this is strong arming a new culture of complacency by getting used to steam... reap what you sow in future if that's the only way to get games (or similar ways).

it's intrusive and 100% unneccessary to play a video game... just listen to the words used.. "i play all my games there" ... there is no there, it's just a storefront that makes you play your games connected to them for no reason but to profit off you when you aren't looking. wuold you buy a game from best buy if you had to play it in their store and be hassled by ads and other marketing crap while you play a game you paid for? fun stuff... just because it's virtualy don't believe it's not in their benefit you are connected while playing an OFFline game.

this is how sports games are being ruined... next you'll have "add-ons" to buy for that $50 game instead of it being included with release.. (see tiger woods games... dirty wh^res of gaming. this is the new norm if you let it happen by paying for that crap that used to be included if you care to remember and old enough.)

a retailer like steam the the PSN makes that more feasible. if it's incredibly convenient, like being able to buy a course while in the game itself, then you are way more likely to pay for it... and they know it. stop buying those add-ons and they'll start putting it back in the original box.

[Izz]

Can't you add games purchased elsewhere to your steam library and play them through steam?

[bosunmate]

Originally Posted by ScorpioSymbol

Guys,

I've got a real problem here.

I've been buying this game since the 2009 version, but this year I'm feeling pretty snubbed.

For the last few versions, when we've preordered we've been able to select the game via Steam, where I prefer to play all my PC games - but this year when I reached out to you via Twitter to find out the deal, I was told there was no way to do that this year...

Next, the pre-order price I paid was $35.99 USD (that's $48.15 CDN) and yet when I go to Steam the price is $39.59 CDN - almost ten bucks cheaper! It's on 10% sale, but even the non-sale price is 5 bucks cheaper than what I paid in pre-order.

Obviously I won't be seeing the money back, but I want that damn Steam key guys, and I know I'm not the only person who feels this way.

I also bought from steam for 39.59 Cdn which I thought was a steal, I like having the auto update feature steam has so I never miss any updates.

[rastyk]

Originally Posted by Izz

Can't you add games purchased elsewhere to your steam library and play them through steam?

Yep. It wasn't a deal-breaker for me. But I have this goofy issue on my Windows box where it wouldn't recognize the registration unless I run the application by reinstalling it ( each time). Eventually, I'll fix it or put in a ticket, but it would have been easier to just use steam and bypass it. Plus, there's that goofy thing with Linux licensing being different. So it's maybe a small, but annoying change.

[dfredc]

Originally Posted by Izz

Can't you add games purchased elsewhere to your steam library and play them through steam?

Yes.
ED: Lol, replied before I saw that rastyk took care of it.

[Izz]

Thanks guys. Thought that was the case.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by NoOne

miseed quote.. but it was more general than for one person:

no to steam.... would never buy a game from them ... ever. if i really wanted something that was only available there.. .i'll just say there are other means and i could rationalize that.

they force you to connect to their network to play offline games... fug that. listen, this is strong arming a new culture of complacency by getting used to steam... reap what you sow in future if that's the only way to get games (or similar ways).

it's intrusive and 100% unneccessary to play a video game... just listen to the words used.. "i play all my games there" ... there is no there, it's just a storefront that makes you play your games connected to them for no reason but to profit off you when you aren't looking. wuold you buy a game from best buy if you had to play it in their store and be hassled by ads and other marketing crap while you play a game you paid for? fun stuff... just because it's virtualy don't believe it's not in their benefit you are connected while playing an OFFline game.

this is how sports games are being ruined... next you'll have "add-ons" to buy for that $50 game instead of it being included with release.. (see tiger woods games... dirty wh^res of gaming. this is the new norm if you let it happen by paying for that crap that used to be included if you care to remember and old enough.)

a retailer like steam the the PSN makes that more feasible. if it's incredibly convenient, like being able to buy a course while in the game itself, then you are way more likely to pay for it... and they know it. stop buying those add-ons and they'll start putting it back in the original box.

Thing is, if it wasn't for OOTP and the Steam Key offer, I to this day wouldn't even know Steam exists. In fact, I think the first time I pre-ordered and received a Steam Key I ignored it, not even knowing what it was. Then I went ahead and used it when I preordered 16. No going back for me. I love Steam. I only have 3 games on Steam, OOTP16, 17 and now 18. I play mainly on a PC, but when I got a laptop a ways back, it was so easy to install my games. Not having to track down my licenses made it worth its weight in gold. Not having to worry that, hey I've now used up my two licenses and if one of these computers crashes before I can unlicense, I'm crap out of luck. My only complaint, the Workshop has only 3 mods available for 18 as of now. We really need to see historical facegens and the nickname file make it over to the 18 Workshop.